Study of Different Options for Use of Saline and Brackish Water in Yazd Province Organization: National Salinity Research Center Researchers: Mohammad Javad Rousta, Mohammad Hassan Rahimian, Mahmood Gholami, Mohammad Hossein Mostafavi, Somayyeh Shahri Summer

Significant portions of water resources in the central, southern and eastern Iran are classified as saline and brackish waters. Lack of adequate together with quality of these water resources is causing serious concern, especially in central Iran. The mentioned limitations forces decision makers to plan on the use of unconventional surface and ground water resources in such areas. This study investigates potentials and limitations of saline water use in agricultural, natural resources and other potential sectors of Yazd province, central Iran. For this purpose, after reviewing the options for use of saline and brackish water in different parts of the world and also the country, volume and spatial distribution of saline and brackish water resources of Yazd province were investigated and studied. Based on the quality and quantity of these resources and also existing potentials from the view of agricultural, natural resources, industrial, fishery and other water consuming sectors, appropriate options were recommended for safe and sustainable use of these resources in different parts of the province. However, a long term planning for use of these considerable volumes of water resources seems to be necessary, regard to the recommended options in this study. Such a plan can be considered as a solution to overcome low quality and quantity limitations of water resources in arid and semi arid areas of the country, such as Yazd province. One of the solutions for use of saline water is using solar desalinization equipped with nanofilters.

Study of Different Options for Use of Saline and Brackish Water in Yazd Province Organization: National Salinity Research Center Researchers: Mohammad Javad Rousta, Mohammad Hassan Rahimian, Mahmood Gholami, Mohammad Hossein Mostafavi, Somayyeh Shahri Summer Keywords:

Saline water , Brackish water , Yazd province